TikTok USDS Joint Venture Ownership Revealed: Silver Lake and Oracle Take the Reins

It's the deal that finally breaks the years-long deadlock. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have officially launched TikTok USDS Joint Venture, a new entity designed to keep the app running for its 200 million American users while satisfying Washington's national security demands.

Decoding the TikTok USDS Joint Venture Ownership Structure

According to the South China Morning Post, the restructuring is a direct response to a 2024 US law that threatened a nationwide ban unless ByteDance divested its interests. Under the new arrangement, ByteDance retains just 19.9% of the venture, while non-Chinese investors now own roughly 80% of the company.

The heavy hitters in this deal are Silver Lake, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX. Each firm holds a 15% stake. To ensure American oversight, the venture's board consists of seven members, a majority of whom are US citizens. Egon Durban, Co-CEO of Silver Lake, will take a prominent seat on this board.

Algorithm Licensing: The 'Secret Sauce' Solution

One of the most complex aspects of the deal is the algorithm. Instead of a full transfer, the new venture will license ByteDance’s recommendation engine. This allows the app to maintain its viral appeal while moving content moderation and data management under the control of the new, US-majority entity.